Wilson nominated for walk-on honor

STARKVILLE -- Mississippi State linebacker Brandon Wilson was nominated Tuesday for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented annually to nation's most outstanding walk-on.

Wilson is tied for second on the team with 81 tackles and one and a half tackles for loss and a fumbled recovery.

"I wanted to always be that guy and didn't come here to just be a forgotten walk-on player," Wilson said in October. "It's definitely rewarding and lets you know hard work does play off. I've been working my butt the past three years, and I'm appreciative to receive that scholarship."

The award is named in the honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who walked on to the University of Arkansas in 1994 after receiving no Division I scholarship offers. Burlsworth became team captain and an All-Southeastern Conference selection in 1997-1998, first team All-SEC in 1998 and the first All-American from the University of Arkansas in a decade.

The award, which was first presented last year by the Rotary Club of Springdale, Ark., was awarded to Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford.

2011 Egg Bowl matchup on ESPNU

The Southeastern Conference announced Monday the annual University of Mississippi-MSU game will be at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26 on ESPNU.

MSU's 31-23 victory last season in Oxford was played at the same time and on the same network.

MSU announced last month it will wear a special uniform for the game. The uniform design will feature maroon jersey and pants, with gold numbers and "Hail State" on the name plate. The gold accents on the uniform represent the importance of the yearly Egg Bowl game, officially known as The Battle for the Golden Egg.

"Adidas approached us with an opportunity to do something special and unique for The Battle for the Golden Egg," MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said. "The Mississippi State-Ole Miss football game is our state's biggest athletic event each year, and these uniforms help highlight how significant the Egg Bowl is to Mississippi State."

The maroon jerseys feature an enlarged Mississippi State wordmark over gold numerals on the front, with gold numerals and nameplates featuring the MSU slogan "Hail State."

"Hail State" is the university's fight song.

Relf maintains inactive Tuesday

MSU coach Dan Mullen said senior quarterback Chris Relf was held out of practice Tuesday and is still suffering concussion symptoms from a hit he took Saturday in a 24-7 loss to then-No. 4 University of Alabama.

Relf was knocked out of the game in the first half against the Crimson

Tide after being inserted for a red-zone offensive package.

"It's one of those deals we have to realize he's symptom free," Mullen said. "Talking to the trainers, they expect him to play, but (for) safety reasons we want to make sure he's symptom free."

Of late, Relf, who is third all-time in school history in pass efficiency and fifth all-time in touchdown passes, has played a situational role mostly when MSU has the football near or in the red zone, or the 20-yard line.